This study investigated the effect of school-sponsored, extra-curricular activities on academic achievement for students at a private school in north central Texas. Students selected for this study were graduates from the classes of 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. With a minimum participation of two years during grades nine through twelve, students were categorized into subgroups of activities. After eliminating students who participated in more than one of the extra-curricular activities of music, drama, visual arts, and athletics, three hundred sixty-one students were represented. The identity of students was encoded and information was recorded for gender, school-sponsored, extra- curricular activities, cumulative grade point averages, SAT Scores, ACT Scores, and cumulative grade point averages in core curriculum subjects. A two-way ANOVA test with a two-by-five factorial design was completed for research questions one through four. A one-way ANOVA with a one-by-five factorial design was completed for research question five. When a significant F was found, Scheffe and LSD post hoc tests were completed to determine pair wise interaction. Statistical differences did exist when comparing school-sponsored, extra-curricular activities and cumulative grade point averages with musicians having a significantly higher cumulative grade point average, SAT scores, and ACT scores than athletes. A significant difference was found among the activity subgroups regarding the cumulative grade point averages in the core curriculum subjects of foreign language, history/English (an interdisciplinary subject at the studied school), mathematics, and science with musicians scoring significantly higher than athletes in all subjects. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to investigate the impact of activities on student achievement. Studies might include larger and different populations, the impact of participation at a younger age, and the impact of other activities on student achievement.

North Korea began its involvement in illicit activities in the 1970s, but it took the United States until the new millennium to develop a series of major law enforcement approaches to counter these activities. North Korea's illicit activities are purportedly the funding input for the development of its nuclear weapons program, which constitutes the output. The main illicit activities to be discussed include drug production and trafficking, the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, cigarettes and pharmaceuticals, missile sales and human trafficking. The United States has aggressively addressed the nuclear threat that North Korea poses, but has been slow to address the inputs that fund the outputs. This thesis seeks to answer the question of why it took the United States over three decades to address the illicit activities of North Korea that purportedly fund its nuclear program. / US Air Force (USAF) author.

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the existing Recreation Program of Denton, Texas provides for the leisure time needs of the citizens of Denton. After the existing program was surveyed, the results were compared with the standards set up by the National Recreation Association for a city the size of Denton. From a comparison of the present program and the standards, an effort was made to formulate a program that would meet the leisure time needs of the citizenship of Denton.

Herbal medicines are an important part of the African culture and tradition and about 80% of Africa’s population relies on traditional remedies for their primary health care needs (WHO, 2008). Athrixia phylicoides is widely used as a traditional remedy, but despite its substantial use, literature on its chemical composition and biological activities is limited. In this study, the chemical composition of the essential oil was determined using gas chromatography combined with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and analysis resulted in the identification of 182 compounds. The major compounds identified in selected samples were α-pinene, β-pinene, caryophyllene oxide, β-caryophyllene, myrcene and spathulenol. Based on the traditional uses of A. phylicoides, various in vitro biological activities were investigated. The extensive use of A. phylicoides for the treatment of boils, sores, bad acne, infected wounds and cuts, prompted the antimicrobial (bacterial and fungal) study using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The methanol extract and essential oil were more selective for the Grampositive bacteria than the Gram-negative bacteria. The extract exhibited stronger activity against all micro-organisms tested compared to the essential oil, with the highest activity against S. aureus, B. cereus and B. subtilis (MIC = 1 mg/ml). The bioactive compound, (4-hydroxyphenyl) propyl coumaroate was isolated from the extract and proved to be most active against S. aureus (MIC = 19.5 μg/ml). Using the DPPH• assay, a comparative antioxidant study was performed. The anti-oxidant activity of the aqueous extract of A. phylicoides (IC50 = 14.01 ± 2.68 μg/ml) was greater than rooibos and Ceylon (black) tea (IC50 > 25.00 μg/ml); comparable to green rooibos and honeybush tea (IC50 = 18.01 ± 4.06 μg/ml; 18.02 ± 4.27 μg/ml, respectively), but less active than green tea (IC50 = 9.64 ± 0.96 μg/ml). The antimalarial activity was determined using the [3H] hypoxanthine incorporation method. The essential oil exhibited greater antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (FCR-3) strain (IC50 = 1.006 ± 0.06 μg/ml) than the methanol extract. The 5-lipoxygenase assay was used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol extract and essential oil. Only the essential oil displayed anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 25.68 μg/ml). Low safety indices were reported for both the methanol extract (SI = 2.28) and essential oil (SI = 1.77). The in vitro biological activities may validate the use of A. phylicoides in traditional medicine.

by Benjamin Kwok Wai Cheung. / Thesis (M.A.Ed.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 108-120.

邱家偉. / Thesis submitted in: December 2009. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-227). / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Qiu Jiawei. / 中、英文摘要 --- p.i / 鳴謝 --- p.iii / 目錄頁 --- p.iv / Chapter 第一章 --- 前言 --- p.1 / Chapter 一、 --- 社會學、社會脈絡與生命歷程 --- p.4 / Chapter 二、 --- 自反性：風險和安全感之平衡 --- p.6 / Chapter 三、 --- 全文內容及重要性簡介 --- p.8 / Chapter 第二章 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.11 / Chapter 一、 --- 自反性現代化 --- p.11 / Chapter 二、 --- 本體性安全感與傳統社會 --- p.13 / Chapter 三、 --- 風險社會與新風險 --- p.16 / Chapter 四、 --- 生命歷程社會學 --- p.27 / Chapter 五、 --- 自反性現代化對生命歷程的反動 --- p.36 / Chapter 第三章 --- ?究問題和方法 --- p.38 / Chapter 一、 --- 孩童時代 --- p.38 / Chapter 二、 --- 近年香港情況 --- p.51 / Chapter 三、 --- ?究問題 --- p.53 / Chapter 四、 --- ?究方法 --- p.55 / Chapter 第四章 --- 學習社會及課外活動制度化 --- p.61 / Chapter 一、 --- 學習社會 --- p.61 / Chapter 二、 --- 香港作?學習社會´ؤ´ؤ孩童時代的發展 --- p.66 / Chapter 三、 --- 孩童閒暇生活與課外活動的發展 --- p.72 / Chapter 四、 --- 全天候的學習社會 --- p.88 / Chapter 第五章 --- 孩童閒暇時間之專業化及規範化 --- p.90 / Chapter 一、 --- 興趣班風潮´ؤ´ؤ課外活動市場化 --- p.90 / Chapter 二、 --- 興趣班風潮的專業論述 --- p.97 / Chapter 三、 --- 系統入侵孩童時代´ؤ´ؤ閒暇生活規範化 --- p.109 / Chapter 四、 --- 市場化、專業化與制度化´ؤ´ؤ現代性的吊詭發展 --- p.122 / Chapter 第六章 --- 家長的自反性培育 --- p.134 / Chapter 一、 --- 成?父母的風險與焦慮 --- p.135 / Chapter 二、 --- 家長的自反性培育心態 --- p.143 / Chapter 三、 --- 全方位的競爭´ؤ´ؤ焦慮風險的惡性循環 --- p.157 / Chapter 四、 --- 刻不容緩的壓力 --- p.168 / Chapter 五、 --- 自反性孩童時代´ؤ´ؤ充滿競爭的社教化環境 --- p.172 / Chapter 六、 --- 自反性培育方式 --- p.182 / Chapter 第七章 --- 自反性生命規劃´ؤ´ؤ吊詭的生命歷程 --- p.192 / Chapter 一、 --- 實證反思 --- p.194 / Chapter 二、 --- 理論反思 --- p.203 / Chapter 三、 --- 全文結語 --- p.214 / 附表 --- p.217 / 參考資料 --- p.221

Microsoft Word - Ungdomssexualitet on- och offline.docx Internet är en relativt ny arena för ungdomar och kunskap saknas fortfarande om hur ungdomars beteende i denna nya miljö hänger samman med vad de gör i traditionella miljöer. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att undersöka ungdomars sexuella aktiviteter online respektive offline. Materialet som analyserats kommer från de två första insamlingstillfällena i en treårig pågående longitudinell undersökning i Västra Götaland. I undersökningen ingår två ungdomskohorter; en grupp som följs över högstadietiden och en som följs över gymnasietiden. Variabel- och mönstercentrerade analyser användes för att få en så komplett bild av ungdomssexualitet som möjligt. Korrelationsanalys visade att det finns ett svagt positivt samband mellan sexuella aktiviteter online och offline det vill säga mellan sexuella aktiviteter på internet och i traditionella vardagsmiljöer. Resultatet av mönsteranalysen visar att det inte är vanligt med en utveckling där man går från att enbart ägna sig åt sexuella aktiviteter online till att enbart ägna sig åt sexuella aktiviteter offline och vice versa, det vill säga att man rör sig mellan de båda arenorna. Detta ger värdefull information för vuxna/behandlare som kommer i kontakt med ungdomar då det gäller planerandet av preventiva åtgärder. / Microsoft Word - Ungdomssexualitet on- och offline.docx Internet is a rather new arena for adolescents and there is still a lack of knowledge about adolescent behavior in this new environment and how it is correlated with the behavior in traditional environments. This master thesis aims at exploring adolescents’ sexual activities online and offline respectively. The analyzed material is part of a longitudinal study in the Västra Götaland region in Sweden, where researchers follow two cohorts of early (13-15 years) and mid (16-19 years) adolescents for three years. Data from the first two years of that study were analyzed in the present study. Variable and pattern centered analyses were conducted to get a broad understanding of adolescents’ sexuality as possible. Correlational analyses showed that there is a weak positive correlation between sexual activities online and offline, i.e.in the Internet and in traditional environments. The results from the pattern centered analysis showed that it is not common for adolescents to move from sexual activities online to only sexual activities offline and vice versa. This gives valuable information to adults/practitioners to help them plan preventive programs.

The activities attended by elementary students are surely not just the classroom lessons only. It includes the participations in classroom and school wide student organizations, in academic and sport competitions sponsored by schools, regions, and states, in self-study and school plays and other performance organized by schools, as well as the participations in after school activities , such as cram schools, dance schools, music and instrument lessons, sport trainings, homework, housework, and leisure activities. It is believed that student participation is somewhat related to their family socio-economic status and to some extent shaping their personality in respect to their self-esteem, autonomy, attitudes towards school, and educational aspiration. This study was designed to examine the interrelationships between student participation, the socioeconomic status of their family , and their personality development . Our data were collected from the survey administered to the fifth graders and the sixth graders in class randomly and systematically selected from two metropolitan elementary schools with a salient descent background in farming and labor in Kaohsiung City and Fonsan City. It was found that both participations in school activities and after school activities favor students more for students from upper socioeconomic status family than for those from lower socioeconomic status family, except sport competitions, homework, and housework. On the other hand, the participation in school activities appears to bear more impact upon self-esteem, autonomy, attitude, and aspiration than does the participation in after school activities. Nevertheless, neither the participation in school activities nor the participation in after school activities can completely explain away the relationship between socioeconomic status and the personality variables. The personality variables of self-esteem, autonomy, attitudes, and aspiration are a reflection in social opportunity structure, particularly, for those at the elementary schools, and also attuned to the earlier findings in the study in social inequality. This study provides information worthwhile for those in academic and education who are concerned with the welfare and the equal opportunity for the poor.

Aim: The aim of the thesis was to investigate the impact of gaze-based assistive technology on daily activities in children with severe physical impairments and without speech. The objectives were to develop and pilot a gaze-based assistive technology intervention (GAT intervention) at home and in school for these children and to understand its impact on daily activities as experienced by their parents. Methods: Study I was a pilot study in which the basic components that were developed for the intervention were evaluated for students with physical impairments. The study aimed at improving the use of computers as assistive technology (AT) in school. Based on the findings in Study I, the GAT intervention was developed. The GAT intervention aimed at implementing gaze-based AT in daily activities. It consisted of two parts; having access to gaze-based AT and having access to services from a multi professional communication team during nine to ten months. Studies II-IV concerned gazebased AT for children with severe physical impairments without speech who participated in the GAT intervention. The participants were ten children (ages 1-15) (Studies II, III), and their parents (Study IV). Studies II and III had longitudinal designs and children were followed during 15-20 months with repeated measurements before, after and at follow-up. In Study II children’s repertoire of computer activities, extent of use, and goal attainment with gaze-based AT was evaluated, as well as parents’ satisfaction with the AT and with services. In Study III children’s eye gaze performance when using gaze-based AT was examined. In Study IV, parents were interviewed twice with the aim of  exploring their experiences of children’s gaze-based AT use in daily life. In Study IV a hermeneutical approach was used. Results: The findings of Study I showed that the basic components of intervention improved the use of computers in school. Study II showed an increased repertoire of computer activities with the gazebased AT, maintained use in daily activities for all at follow up, and that all children attained goals for gaze-based AT use in daily activities. Parents were satisfied with the gaze-based AT, and with the services in the GAT intervention. In study III, nine children improved in eye gaze performance over time when using the gaze-based AT in daily activities. Study IV revealed that children’s gaze-based AT usage in daily activities made a difference to parents since the children demonstrated agency, and showed their personality and competencies by using gaze-based AT, and for the parents this opened up infinite possibilities for the child to do and learn things. Overall, children’s gaze-based AT usage provided parents with hope of a future in which their children could develop and have influence in life. Conclusions: This thesis shows that these children with severe physical impairments and without speech acquired sufficient gaze control skills to use gaze-based AT for daily activities in the home and at school. The gaze-based AT had a positive impact on performing activities, for example, play activities and communication- and interaction-related activities. For the parents, children’s gaze-based AT usage made a difference since it shaped a hope of a better future for their children, where they can develop and gain influence in their future life. Furthermore, the children continued to perform daily activities with gaze-based AT over time. This finding suggests that key persons were provided with sufficient knowledge and skills to support children in maintained use of gaze-based AT after withdrawal of the services provided in the GAT intervention.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education